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When his football-playing days started in third grade, Carter Dowell wasn’t the standout running back he is today.

“When I first started, it was kind of like trying to find my position. I was actually a tight end because I was always kind of taller than everybody,� the Troy Buchanan senior said. “After that, I played a little bit of a fullback, but that was mainly just like second- or third-string. In middle school, I moved to running back.�

Dowell and his high school teammate and coaches are all glad he made the position switch.

Dowell, the No. 29 recruit on the Post-Dispatch Super 30 countdown of the area’s top senior college football prospects, had a strong sophomore season two years ago, but really broke out last year as a junior.

He rushed for 1,041 yards and seven touchdowns two seasons ago before improving those ground totals to 1,762 yards and 27 TDs last fall.

“He had a great season as a sophomore, but he scored eight touchdowns (total) and he had a lot of big runs where he just kind of ran out of gas and got caught within the 10- to 15-yard line. Our quarterback at the time, Hunter Keene, scored 20 touchdowns because he cleaned up a lot of that,� Trojans coach Brett Wiggers said. “So that was a big coaching point for him going into his junior year. It was, ‘Hey man, you got all these big runs, now you’ve got to finish the job. Don't leave it up to chance, go punch it in.’ And he took that to heart. Hopefully, we can continue to build on that.�

Dowell, who checks in at even 6-feet and 205 pounds, thinks of himself as an all-purpose back.

“I can kind of do it all. I'm not just a power back. I'm not just a speed back. My fastest 40 (yard time) this offseason was like 4.58 (seconds). I'm a big, strong guy, like 460 (pounds) squat and 315 bench. I feel like I can kind of do it all. I can read the defense. I have a great vision. I just think I'm a pretty good overall running back.�

Wiggers agrees with his standout back’s self-assessment.

“Yeah, violent is the word that I would use to describe the way that Carter runs the football,� Wiggers said. “He's kind of the total package running the ball. He can catch the ball out of the backfield, he’s patient, he's got good vision, he's got the ability to make guys miss. But I think, truly, if you flip on his highlight film, what's the most impressive is the sheer amount of defenders that it takes to get Carter to the ground.�

Dowell is excited to once again share the backfield with quarterback Hunter Humphrey, a fellow senior who has been one of his best friends since before their football-playing days commenced.

“I met him in preschool at 4 years old, so we've been best friends ever since,� Dowell said. “I can see when he's nervous and I can see when he's confident. I can read him really well and he can read me well, so that helps. It's really nice to be able to have someone like that, especially a running back and quarterback duo.�

Dowell will also be aided by having a quality running mate in senior Chris Wenger, who rushed for 322 yards and nine scores as a backup running back last season.

“So, we've kind of got a three-headed attack going this year,� Wiggers said. “We’re a team that primarily is gonna run the football, we don't try to hide that. But having three different options, it forces defenses to make a choice on who they're going to take care of. And, if they make the wrong choice, one of these guys is gonna make them pay. We're very fortunate to have some really good weapons and obviously Carter’s kind of the main figure there from a rushing standpoint.�

After a handful of offers from NCAA Division II schools, Dowell visited Lindenwood last week and committed to the Division I school in St. Charles the next day.

“I got like eight D-II offers, I believe, and I never really went on many visits or anything like that,� he said. “But I went on an official visit on Wednesday and that kind of sold me on Lindenwood. I really love everything about it. I love the culture. I love the players. So, that's where I wanted to be.�

Wiggers is excited for the chance to continue to watch Dowell tote the rock after his days in a Troy uniform are over.

“We’re excited for him, and you know, it'll be great in future years to just be able to hop in the car and drive a half-hour to go watch him play. Having the opportunity to play Division I football here in the St. Louis area, close to home, what a blessing that is for him,� Wiggers said. “That was kind of the opportunity he was waiting for, and whenever they pulled the trigger, I told him, ‘Don't wait around and miss on this thing. It's gonna be a great opportunity for you.’ And to have it out of the way now, it's not anything that he's worried about. We're not worried about recruiting. All we’re worried about is going out and having a phenomenal senior year, which he was gonna go do anyway, but just having one less thing to worry about is always a good thing.�

Before he dons the Lion black and gold in the fall of 2026, though, Dowell and the Trojans have some unfinished business they’d like to tend to this fall.

Troy enjoyed a 10-0 start to last season before falling 43-19 to Rock Bridge in the Class 6 District 4 championship game.

“Seriously, I can't wait. Ever since the last game of the year, I just wanted to play football again. I've been waiting for this moment. Just one more year of high school football. I’m just ready to do better than we did last year,� Dowell said. “Us being conference champs, we know guys wanna beat us, but we also have unfinished business. We're gonna go all out, no matter what. Sure, we went undefeated to the playoffs, but we're not cocky. We're still hungry. We want to win it at all.�